Studying in Australia: QnA

Me:  Could you tell us about the employment prospects for students in more detail?
Expert:  Australia is facing a massive shortage in the skill development sector and with commitment of billions of dollars on infrastructure building, migrant workers are going to play a key role in development. This should encourage students from around the globe to pursue higher education and job opportunities in Australia.

Me: What are the most promising academic areas in Australia in terms of employment?
Expert: For students who’re academically inclined, engineering courses like mechanical engineering have a huge scope in Australia as there is a commitment to manufacture and produce in Australia, and reduce the dependency on the foreign imports. There are plentiful natural resources in Australia and with time, Australia will take new big strides in the manufacturing sector creating a plethora of jobs for people. Furthermore, courses like Informational Technology gain prominence as Australia plans to boost its technology and the cyber security sector.
COVID-19 has also shown the importance of mental health and related courses. Hence, mental health and well-being would be popular courses in the near future. Nursing is also a great option as there’s going to be a significant ageing population in Australia and it requires a considerable number of health workers to serve this population. This also brings up the relevance of social work courses. In the near future, social work might be a preferred degree for students into academics. 

Me: What about those who are not academically inclined?
Expert: If not academically inclined, one should go for the trade courses. One of the most sought after courses is carpentry for the international students. The carpentry course leads to a builder’s license in Australia and with the boom in building and construction, skilled carpenters will continue to see growing demand in Australia. 
Next, the automotive sector is also a popular choice for international students as it leads to the pathway of a technician. Many of these courses require a job ready program, in which students learn and apply their skills in the real world.

Me: How will a student decide which course to go for?
Expert: Ultimately it will come down to your interests, capabilities and future ambition. Many of these courses have requirements of IELTS or other English proficiency tests. The requirement could be a 7 band or higher; it’s important to check the requirements. Also, international students should take cognizance of the financial costs involved: university or degree costs will be higher than diploma/trade courses.

Me: Do all these courses have good career prospects? 
Expert: There are employers in both the private and public sector in all the above courses, with many employers even willing to sponsor the right candidate with a lock in period of commitment. The bottom line is that there’s ample demand for these workers in Australia.

Me: Thank you so much for agreeing to share your insights. Any parting words of advice for students?
Expert: Ensure that you choose both your course and the university/college carefully as it is a significant investment in your career. Many students are being misguided as they jump from one course to another. It is important to do one’s own research to decide what’s best. Get in touch with students who have already done these courses in Australia and ask questions about their job roles and workplace. These can give important pointers in terms of how you can chart your own path and assure you about how valuable this journey can be.

This article was originally published by The Economic Times on 26th January 2022.